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COVID-19 Lockdown and the Impact on Mobility, Air Quality, and Utility Consumption: A Case Study from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Author

Listed:
  • Abdallah Shanableh

    (Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
    GIS and Remote Sensing Center, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, Shajah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Rami Al-Ruzouq

    (Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
    GIS and Remote Sensing Center, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, Shajah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Mohamad Ali Khalil

    (Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Mohamed Barakat A. Gibril

    (GIS and Remote Sensing Center, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, Shajah 27272, United Arab Emirates
    Department of Civil Engineering and Geospatial Information Science Research Centre (GISRC), Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Khaled Hamad

    (Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Mohamad Alhosani

    (Division of Consultancy, Research and Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company—Bee’ah, Sharjah 20248, United Arab Emirates)

  • Mohammed Hashem Stietiya

    (Division of Consultancy, Research and Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company—Bee’ah, Sharjah 20248, United Arab Emirates)

  • Mayyada Al Bardan

    (Sharjah Electricity, Water, and Gas Authority, Sharjah 135, United Arab Emirates)

  • Saeed Al Mansoori

    (Applications Development and Analysis Section (ADAS), Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Dubai 211833, United Arab Emirates)

  • Nezar Atalla Hammouri

    (Department of Applied Physics and Astronomy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
    Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, Jordan)

Abstract

This study presents an analysis of the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on people’s mobility trends, air quality, and utility consumption in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Records of lockdown and subsequent easing measures, infection and vaccination rates, community mobility reports, remotely sensed and ground-based air quality data, and utility (electricity, water, and gas) consumption data were collected and analyzed in the study. The mobility trends reflected the stringency of the lockdown measures, increasing in the residential sector but decreasing in all other sectors. The data showed significant improvement in air quality corresponding to the lockdown measures in 2020 followed by gradual deterioration as the lockdown measures were eased. Electricity and water consumption increased in the residential sector during the lockdown; however, overall utility consumption did not show significant changes. The changes in mobility were correlated with the relevant air quality parameters, such as NO 2 , which in turn was highly correlated to O 3 . The study provides data and analysis to support future planning and response efforts in Sharjah. Furthermore, the methodology used in the study can be applied to assess the impacts of COVID-19 or similar events on people’s mobility, air quality and utility consumption at other geographical locations.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdallah Shanableh & Rami Al-Ruzouq & Mohamad Ali Khalil & Mohamed Barakat A. Gibril & Khaled Hamad & Mohamad Alhosani & Mohammed Hashem Stietiya & Mayyada Al Bardan & Saeed Al Mansoori & Nezar Atalla, 2022. "COVID-19 Lockdown and the Impact on Mobility, Air Quality, and Utility Consumption: A Case Study from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-24, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1767-:d:741819
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ari-Veikko Anttiroiko, 2021. "Successful Government Responses to the Pandemic: Contextualizing National and Urban Responses to the COVID-19 Outbreak in East and West," International Journal of E-Planning Research (IJEPR), IGI Global, vol. 10(2), pages 1-17, April.
    2. Kadir Diler Alemdar & Ömer Kaya & Antonino Canale & Muhammed Yasin Çodur & Tiziana Campisi, 2021. "Evaluation of Air Quality Index by Spatial Analysis Depending on Vehicle Traffic during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Turkey," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-15, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cerqueira, Pedro André & Pereira da Silva, Patrícia, 2023. "Assessment of the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on electricity consumption – Evidence from Portugal and Spain," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).

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